Toyota and Microsoft have announced a $12m joint investment on including Microsoft's Azure cloud platform in upcoming Toyota vehicles for better telematics.
The two companies have been working together since 1998 on in-car mapping, entertainment and information services for cars.
Ideas include switching on heating while the car …

An update is available for your car

Your car will shut down in 30 seconds to complete updating which may take up to an hour. When it restarts you will be asked for your unique Microsoft Serial Number which can be found on the underside of the vehicle's chassis.

Toy Yoda = win :D

Answering questions after the announcement, (((Toyoda))) said combining telematics with car management systems with Microsoft's cloud architecture would properly link vehicles to IT functions.

(((Toyoda))) expects vehicles on sale by 2012 to include Azure-based Smart Center technology. By 2015 the joint venture wants to have global deals with mobile firms to provide Toyota customers with comms services through their cars.

Wow

First BSOD-induced crash has already happened

Now, however, you also have to hope not just the on-board computer not BSingOD, but also that teh intarwebz don't catch acute nonconnectivitis, or that the cloud didn't accidentally discolour, or that your data plan for your car didn't run out, or that.... Ah sod it.

Most of the functions of the car are most useful while inside the car. The rest is just interference by unwelcome busybodies. If I had a car (which I don't) I might be arsed to add a small-ish box to interface with the on-board electronics and have it occasionally check for either the home wlan or a free one, to deliver the weekly status report over encrypted mail, or something to that tune. And no, it wouldn't run any redmondware at all, ever. All the rest is doodads and guffins that nobody actually needs. In fact, most people don't need more than a calendar entry when to deliver the car to the service station for a regular check-up.

So I'm inclined to think of this as yet another "solution" desperately looking for a problem to involve that micros~1-branded clouy thing in, all for grate marketeering. Anybody disagree, please do explain.

Oh well...

I've been a Toyota fan ever since I was a Toyota line mechanic back in the 1970's and 80's. We own two now. I guess my next new car is going to be something else. Just what I need, a BSOD when I am trying to navigate the backend of nowhere...

Sucky GPS

My 2007 Prius has the worst GPS I have ever seen, and it added $2500 to the sticker price. It wouldn't take any arm twisting to convince me Microsoft or a Microsoft-trained flunky designed it.

The basics are fine, it receives satellite signals. But for some reason it will not give time of day, elevation, or moving speed. One might think to use the GPS to sync to the clock on the car's dash not 2' away, but it doesn't.

It doesn't keep a track long that one might backtrack to return the way one came.

Not having its own clock function for some reason its ETA's are always one hour longer than actual. Whats the point in displaying an ETA if you won't display your notion of the current time?

If Apple were to get into automotive electronics then I'd be interested. But as for GPS I saw Nissan offering factory installed Garmin mounts in some models. That's smart!

BSOD jokes - I'm far too slow ..

Was my instant reaction, but then I guess people have managed to 'harden' software sufficiently to cope with flying military jets, run car engines, sort out ABS.... must be possible, though I'm not sure I'd start with such an operating system (and unix/linux/android/symbian are all at least as bad).

Another disturbing thought

Once the car is linked to a telematics system I have little doubt that the UK bluebottles will be grabbing all the data to work out who to charge with speeding - its bad enough with their pathetic cameras everywhere.

The government will then latch onto its ability to charge you a fortune to use the roads.

On the plus side it will provide an interesting sideline in hacked up control systems that don't communicate with the spy in the sky....